Leg and ankle support



A. A. BROOKS LEGv AND'ANKLE SUPPORT Filed Oct. 27, 1923 Aug. 9,1927.

Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

UNITED STATES l 1,638,235 PATENT OFFICE.

AUIBREY AUGUSTUS BROOKS, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

LEG AND Amina SUPPORT.

Application filed October 27, 1923. Serial No;V 671,235.

A further object is to provide a light,A

strong support which may be easilyand quickly attached and removed and which is instantaneously adjustable to fit the wearer.

A still further object is to provide a device which will guard the ankles of the wearer from external injury.

The principal feature of the invention consists in providing a stirrup member to eX- tend beneath and embrace the Jfoot and pivl otally connecting same to an adjustable rigid bracing member adapted to be secured to the leg. y

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a pair of the supporting de vices attached to the wearer.

Figure 2 is a front elevational part sectional view of one of the supporting devices.

Figure 3 is a perspective detail of the stir-` rup member which embraces the underside of the foot and to which the lower ends o the brace rods are pivotally secured.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the leg strap and brace rods from which the stirrup has been removed.

Ankle supports of various forms have been devised with a view to overcoming the undesirable effects of weak ankles andthe present invention contemplates a considerable improvement on those heretofore inl use since it not only supports the ankle in a highly effective yet non-restrictive manner, but is so constructed as to not bind or restrict the action of the leg muscles or interfere with blood circulation.

In the structure shown the foot stirrup is formed of a plate 1 having upwardly projecting side plates 2 adapted to iit snugly into the side arches of the shoe, the plate portion 1 extending under the instep and engaging the forward part of the heel. TheY plate 1 if desired may be formed in a cup shape to fit over the heel of the shoe, the object being to have the member 1 engage the foot with a firm grip. j

Secured to the under side of the plate 1 is a transversely arranged bearing here shown in the form ofa tubular member 3 which is ris buckled snugly around the leg.

had rigidly in 'piace by means of the man straps l which are riveted to the plate 1.v

A rigid rod 5 having a laterally bent end 6 is journalled in the bearing 3 and extends upwardlyalongside the inward side of the leg. A rigid rod. 7 provided with an eye 8 at therend lits over the threaded end 9 of the rod 5 projecting beyond the journal 3 and extends upwardly o n the outer side of theileg substantially parallel with the rodl 5. The rod 7 is secured to the end ofthe rod 5 by a suitable nut 1(3)'. l The rods 5 and 7 extend upwardly from the member 1 and slidably arranged thereover are a pair ot tubular members 1l. and 12 which extend upwardly and are flattened at their upper endsr and curved arc-shaped 'ilates 13 are securely riveted thereto. v

Suitable loops 14 project outwardly from the plates 13 through which the legsencircling strap 16 is threaded.

To secure therdevice in place the stirrup is irst placed under the instep of the foot.

The members 11 and 12 are then drawn upwardly until the plates 18 fitV into the hollow above the calf of the leg and the strap 16 The telescopic rods thus form a rigid support from a point just below the knee to the bottom of the foot and itwill be impossible to turn the ankle. E

At any time when it is desired to remove the supporting device from the shoe to facilitate carrying or for other purposes this may be very quickly and easily accomplished by simply unthreading the thumb nut 10 and thus removing the telescopic members from their connection with the shoe. y

. A device such as described is extremely simple yet highly eliicient in the results it accomplishes. The pivot connection between the braces and the stirrup allows perfeet freedom of heel and toe action andthe tubular members slip. freely on the rods and prevent any binding or cramping of ythe foot action.

Wear on the sides of the shoesr by the pivotal movement of the braces is prevented by the side shields of the stirrup.

The device is shown as applied in skating but its use is however not limited to skating but it may be used equally beneficial as a protection for the ankle and leg when the What I claim as my invention is:-

1L A legr and ankle support7 comprising, a sirrup member extending beneath and securely embracing` the foot, and telescopic brace members pivotally yconnected fto said stirrup and extending upwardly past the sides thereoil and secured to the leg.

2. A leg` and ankle support, comprising a stirrup member extend-ing beneath vand securely embracing the foot and having a journal extending -therebelo-W, a pair of rods pivoted in said journal and -extending upwardly either side of the foot, a pairof rods telescoping `the aforesaid rods, and means for securing the upper ends of the latter rods to the leg.

3. ik vleg` and ankle support, comprising in combination With ya shoe, a pair of rods arranged one on each side ofthe shoe, means 7for lpivotally connecting said rods to the sho-e, a tubular member -telescopically arranged on each of said rods and extending Aon VYeither side,r a bearing Carried by said plate andrextendlng transversely thereof. an

adjustable rod having one end extending through said bearing; and projecting a short distance therebeyond and having't-he other end bent upwardly7 an adjustable rod having an eye at its lower end ,to receive the projecting portion of lthe former red, a vnut threaded on the end of said projectinn` portion Ato secure the eye rod in place, and means arranged on the upper ends of said adjustable rods adapted to be rinly heldin position on the leg.

In .testimony 'whereof I have hereunto Vset my hand.

AUBREY AUGUSTUS'BROOKS. V-{nsQl p 

